Support for accordions



Oct. 18, 1938. M. B. LUTTBEG SUPPORT FOR ACCORDIONS Filed Nov. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 18, 1938.

M. B. LUTTBEG SUPPORT FOR ACCORDIONS 2 She ets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1936 Roe/afar ea' Qmme Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to supports for accordions and is an improvement upon the invention disclosed in my copending application, filed in the United States Patent Office on October 28, 1935. Serial No. 47,001.

Generally accordions have been supported by means of one or more flexible straps which extended over the players shoulder. This relieved the player's arm of the weight of the accordion but not of the lateral strain produced by the operation of the accordion in expanding and compressing the bellows. As is well known in the art, the left arm is used to operate the bass section or end of the accordion to extend and compress the bellows, while the straps are supposed to hold the right side of the accordion stationary. However, the straps are not entirely satisfactory in holding the right side stable enough and prevent swaying. Furthermore, in attempting to hold the treble section or right side of the accordion steady, the player presses it against his body. This is inconvenient and may be injurious to the players health. Also that side of the bellows which is next to the players body rubs against his clothing and consequently wears out.

In the beforementioned copending application, a support is disclosed which consists of a single leaf or section and consequently cannot remain attached to the accordion as it will not fit in the accordion case.

Among the main objects of the present invention is the provision of a device which is attached to the accordion and extends therefrom on a curve disposed transversely and away from the accordion so as to encircle partially the players body, thereby insuring a firm and proper position for the accordion, said device being hingedly mounted on said accordion so as to be foldable thereagainst.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support or stabilizer for accordions which is attached to the wall of one of the sections of the accordion and is so shaped as to fit snugly against the players body in a convenient man- .ner and hold the accordion steady, said support consisting of a plurality of foldable sections so that said support can be folded against the accordion when not in use to save space and to enable the accordion and the support to be placed in a case generally used for this purpose.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of an accordion with the support shown in extended position.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of same.

Figure 3 is a fragmental top plan view with the support folded.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of same.

Figure 5 is a fragmental perspective detail view of the hinge connection between two sections.

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal cross section taken on line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal cross section through a modified form of hinge.

Describing briefly the accordion, 10 indicates a bellows, II a bass section, and I2 a treble section. The latter is provided with a keyboard M. A wrist strap I5 is attached to the bass section I l and is used to operate the bass section to extend and compress the bellows. Two straps I6 are attached to the treble section and pass over the players body and serve to support the accordion. All of these parts may be of the usual construction and the accordion is operated in the usual manner.

The invention resides in the provision of a suitable support or stabilizer I! which is attached to the rear wall of the accordion and curves transversely and outwardly from the accordion so as to encircle partially the players body and hold the instrument steady and in proper playing position.

As shown in Figures 1 to this support I! consists of three sections or leaves l8, l9 and 20, the intermediate section [9 being hingedly connected to the outer sections. The first section 18 is longer than the others and is attached to the rear wall I'Za of the treble section l2 by means of screws 24 or other suitable fastening devices.

The inner edge of the intermediate section 19 is connected by a hinge 25 to the stationary section I8 at a point spaced from the outer edge l8a thereof so that said edge portion 3a is disposed to the accordion side of section E3 in overlapping relation therewith.

Similarly the inner edge of the outer section 2|] is connected by a hinge 26 to the intermediate section l9 at a point spaced from the outer edge I9a thereof so that said edge portion is disposed on the accordion side of leaf or section 20 and overlaps the same.

Stationary section or leaf I8 is fiat in transverse cross section with the exception of the overlapping edge portlon I811. The latter and the hinged sections l9 and 20 are in cross section curved transversely away from the accordion, the

curvature being such as to enable the curved parts to fit against the left side of the players body while the accordion is held in a playing position.

The purpose of the overlapping arrangement of the outer edges "la and I911 with the respective sections 89 and 2B is to limit the outward or opening movement of said sections to predetermined positions and to provide stops or rigid backing for said sections 19 and 2!] when in their proper open positions.

When the accordion is not in use, sections l9 and 25 can be folded against section l8, as shown in Figure 3, and the accordion can be placed in its carrying case with said support I! remaining attached to the accordion.

The sections l8, l9 and 20 are made of sheet material, preferably of a suitable sheet metal, and the support is light in weight but of durable construction. It can be easily opened and folded and can be applied to old as well as new instru ments by any person. It is so constructed that when applied to old instruments it will fit in the carrying case provided with the old instrument. When the support is in use it holds the instrument in proper position at all times and relieves the supporting straps from shifting and binding.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 6- inclusive the hinge members of hinges 25 and 26 are formed integral with the respective leaves or sections.

In the modified form shown in Figure '7 a separate hinge 2? is provided and is secured to the respective leaves 28 and 2Q by rivets or welding.

My device is light in weight and inexpensive to manufacture, can be easily'attached to old as Well as new accordions, and when folded fits with the accordion into the carrying case without requiring changes in the latter.

While I have shown the preferred form of my support, it is obvious thatvarious changes can be made in the construction thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: I a

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of vertically disposed plates hingedly connected along their vertical edges to each other, one" of said plates being adapted to be fixed tothe rear wall of one of the accordion end sections, said sections being of substantial length and being curved transversely away from the accordion and adapted to fit against a substantial part of one side of the players torso and hold the instrument in proper position.

2. In a stabilizing device for accordions, the combination of a plurality of vertically disposed transversely curved elongated plates hingedly connected to each other along their vertical edges, one of said plates being adapted to be fixed to the rear end wall of one of the accordion end sections and having its ends disposed near the ends of said section, said hinged plates being movable into open positions to curve away from sad accordion and fit against a substantial portion of one side of the players torso and hold the instrument in proper playing position, said hinged sections when not in use being foldable against said fixed section, whereby said accordion can be placed in its carrying casewith said support attached. 1

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with an accordion having a reed section provided with a rear wall, of a stationary elongated leaf mounted on said wall and terminating near the ends thereof, and a vertically disposed movable leaf hingedly mounted on one of the vertical edges of said stationary leaf, said movable leaf being of a substantial length and being curved transversely away from the accordion and adapted to fit against a substantial portion of one side of the torso of the player and hold said accordion steady and when not in use being foldable against said stationary leaf.

4. In an accordion having a reed section provided with a rear wall, of a vertically disposed stationary elongated leaf mounted on said wall and extending near the ends thereof, and a movable elongated leaf hingedly mounted on said stationary leaf at a point spaced from the outer edge thereof, whereby said edge portion overlaps said movable leaf and" limits the opening move ment of the latter, said movable leaf and the overlapping portion of said stationary leaf being each of substantiallengthand being curved away from the accordion and adapted to fit against a substantial portion'of one side of the torso of the player.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with an accordion having a reed section provided with a rear wall, of a vertically disposed stationary leaf fixed on said wall, a movable vertically elongated leaf, a vertically disposed hinge pivotally mounting one edge of said movable leaf on said stationary leaf whereby said movable leaf can be folded against said rear wall when not in use, said leaves each being of a substantial length and being curved outwardly from the accordion to fit against a substantial portion of one side of the players torso and hold the accordion in proper position, and means on one of said leaves for limiting the opening movement of said movable leaf.

6. In an accordion, a device of the class described comprising a plate adapted to be fixed to the rear wall of one of the reed sections of the accordion, an intermediate vertically elongated leaf hingedly mounted at one of its vertical edges on said first leaf, an elongated outer leaf hingedly mounted at one of its vertical edges on the outer edges of said intermediate leaf, said intermediate and outer leaves being each of a substantial length and being curved away from the accordion to fit when in open position to one side against a substantial portion of one side of the players torso, and being foldable when not in use against the accordion, and means for limiting the outward opening movements of said intermediate and outer leaves.

7. In a device of the class described, a vertically elongated plate adapted to be fixed to and disposed longitudinally of the rear wall of one of the reed sections of an accordion, a vertically disposed movable plate, and a vertically disposed hinge connecting one vertical edge of said movable plate to said fixed plate in overlapping relation with the outer edge of the latter whereby the opening movement of said movable plate is limited thereby, said movable plate being of a substantial length and being curved in transverse cross section away from said accordion so as to engagea substantial portion of one side of the players torso and hold said accordion against lateral movement.

MAX B. LUTTBEG. 

